Design is intelligence made visible

Sustainable Design

The Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Museum in NYC is this week hosting a summit on sustainable design. Questions are being prepared for the panels but it is stressed that there is no “right” answer to them, just the need to become more aware of the issues. You can follow their blog here: www.cooperhewitt.org/blog. GDP will be keeping an eye on developments.

Meanwhile, a great little book was given to me recently by the paper company, G.F. Smith. It’s called Field Guide: Eco-Friendly, Efficient and Effective Print and is a simple how-to guide for designers to become more sustainable. One of the main issues is that of paper production – the book is produced by another paper company, Monadnock Paper Mills of New Hampshire, USA. As well as being a useful and attractive book it also boasts illustrations by the fabulous Charley Harper, who died in 2007. So much stuff that helps us become more socially aware is unfortunately rather boring, but Field Guide is something that you would want to use and own.